It’s a fresh start for everyone, a clean slate from baseline to baseline.
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“It doesn’t change”, he said. “The main thing is still the main thing, and that’s to win a championship”. Rookie Stanley Johnson should flourish in his first season and Andre Drummond is arguably the best center in the East.
James had been limited to shooting drills and conditioning since getting the shot October. 13.
The last time people really saw James play – preseason games don’t count – they witnessed him at perhaps his greatest, averaging 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists in the Finals.
The loss dropped James to 2-4 in the league’s showcase event, and it’s that record – fairly or unfairly – that will ultimately define his legacy.
LeBron James, who reconciled with Gilbert following his infamous 2010 departure to South Beach, says he’s thrilled with his boss’s willingness to pay for such high-priced talent. The Cavs are still trying to get all their pieces to fit after a disjointed preseason, while the Bulls have a new coach, a new starting lineup and an old star coming off yet another injury.
The season opener is four days away and there are doubts LeBron James will be ready. Free agents LeBron James, Kevin Love, Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith, Matthew Dellavedova and Tristan Thompson were all re-signed. Jared Cunningham, Richard Jefferson and Sasha Kaun. Just over a week ago, he got that same injection in his back, it worked last time for James, and hopefully it will work again.
“It’s probably the most hard cut that I’ve ever had to make”, Lakers coach Byron Scott said. “But you need your guys to be healthy”. If he wants to play there, the Cavaliers know they have to do whatever it takes to keep him happy.
Earlier this week, Cavs coach David Blatt said James would “absolutely” play against the Bulls.
James is entering his 13th National Basketball Association season and has averaged 39.1 minutes over 911 career regular-season games. I was in a series, I didn’t play much, but I was in a series on that other bench that went seven games, and Michael just completely took the game over late in that game. The Cavs found that out last season, and it looks like they could be facing the same challenge again this season. The valuable rebounder held out for a long-term deal. To a lesser extent, position wise, LeBron James on $48 million but importantly Timofey Mozgov ($14 million, three years), Anderson Varejao ($30 million, three years) and Kevin Love ($113 million, five years). This could drag into the regular season, creating a distraction and drama the Cavs don’t need.
Kyrie Irving’s shattered knee cap may sideline him until after the holidays. The Cavaliers returned all of their key players that were injured in the finals, and the Spurs added very talented players to a top-notch rotation with LaMarcus Aldridge and David West. All the drives to draw contact have taken their toll on the 23-year-old. Although he is typically the smallest player on the floor on a given night, Thomas’ confidence allows him to play big.
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“Dan nearly dares us to believe that we can spend more money and make it work”, Griffin said.
